Posted on 03/12/2008 9:50:32 PM PDT by james500
Bernard Kouchner, the foreign minister of France and a longtime humanitarian, diplomatic and political activist on the international scene, says that whoever succeeds President George W. Bush may restore something of the United States' battered image and standing overseas, but that "the magic is over."
In a wide-ranging conversation with Roger Cohen of the International Herald Tribune at the launch of a Forum for New Diplomacy in Paris, Kouchner on Tuesday also held out the hope of talking with Hamas, the Palestinian faction that rules the Gaza Strip but has been ostracized by the West and by its Palestinian rival, Fatah, because it opposes peace talks with Israel and denies that Israel has a right to exist.
Asked whether the United States could repair the damage it has suffered to its reputation during the Bush presidency and especially since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, Kouchner replied, "It will never be as it was before."
"I think the magic is over," he continued, in what amounted to a sober assessment from one of the strongest supporters in France of the United States.
...
Some of the most persistent diplomatic challenges emanate from the Middle East, and Kouchner was asked about approaches to Iran, whose president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has called for the destruction of Israel, or to Hamas, which has the same stated goal.
Kouchner and other European diplomats have tried to talk Iran out of its controversial nuclear program, but officially rejected all contacts with Hamas, which is listed as a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union. Asked whether there is a way to engage Hamas, which is supported by a significant minority of Palestinians, Kouchner appeared to hold out hope of contact, saying: "I'm looking for a diplomatic way to say yes."
(Excerpt) Read more at iht.com ...
Ping
A frenchman that thinks? I don't think so................
We'll remember that the next time you need rescuing. ...and rest assured, there will be a next time.
The French have 100B reasons to believe in magic
“Reputation” and “stature” are code words for the US doing what they want.
This guy must be a leftover Chirac catchfart.
- regards.
Western europe revels in a culture of being the “anti-america”.
Since Kouchner is clearly a do-nothing Eurocrat that is letting his country swirl down the Islamic drain, it is to be expected that he would want to denigrate the foreign policy of any upstanding US president such as GWB.
With friends like this...........
Does that mean we can stop paying billions to nations that hate our guts? Can we stop the international welfare now, now that we’re not ‘hot stuff’ anymore? Can we kick the friggin UN off US soil and toss their ass back to the Beast building in Europe? I’m fine with this, let’s just take the opportunity to clean house and shut down the friggin international welfare gravy train to all these ungrateful and anti-US governments. It isn’t doing anything to alter their perceptions. Might as well not waste throwing our money at them. Especially since apparently “we’re over” now.
Well, just damn! Guess I'll pack up and leave.
I guess this means we’re officially Top Dog.
I recognized those as code words for "leftist." Sure enough, he's a Socialist, unlike Sarko.
No No.. the magiq will begin when your beloved fellow socialist D’Rats take power. You will see all kinds of magiq tricks and euphoria when the Pied-Piper becomes the leader of his Magical Kingdom. You Euroweenies will love the new and ‘progressive’ United States of the 3rd World.
The Dem’Rats mission is to seek your approval..they won’t disappoint you O elitist enlightened ones.
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